Francis DePaola, administrator for the highway division of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, spoke Wednesday at the Statehouse before business leaders from Western Massachusetts.The Republican photo by Dan Ring

BOSTON - The state's highway administrator Wednesday told business leaders in Western Massachusetts that a $400 million replacement of the elevated section of Interstate 91 in Springfield could be completed in a way to minimize disruptions and congestion in the city.

Francis DePaola, administrator for the highway division of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, also said the department is preparing for possible final legislative passage of a Senate-approved bill to reinstate tolls for passenger vehicles on the Massachusetts Turnpike between Exit 1 in West Stockbridge and Exit 6 at Interstate 291 east of Springfield and spend the toll money on transportation projects in the four counties of Western Massachusetts.

DePaola, an engineer who was appointed to his position in 2011, was among top leaders in state government who spoke in front of business officials during this year's "Beacon Hill Summit" at the Statehouse by the Affiliated Chambers of Commerce of Greater Springfield, the Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce and the Chicopee Chamber of Commerce.

DePaola said the state is currently studying the possible rebuilding of the Interstate 91 viaduct in Springfield. He said the study would take another six to eight months to complete.

If the Massachusetts Gaming Commission awards a casino license to a developer in Springfield, DePaola said the state will make sure that traffic impacts on the casino are mitigated and that the developer would pay for any needed mitigation. "If we have to improve an interchange or add an interchange, it will be done and they will be paying for it," he said.

The state is also looking at potentially placing all or part of the viaduct at ground level, he said. It is unclear when construction could start on the project, but DePaola outlined a building process that he said might reduce traffic tie ups.

"In two years, we could replace the entire viaduct, north to south in the city of Springfield," DePaola said.

He said most major work could be completed on weekends or nights when traffic is lighter. Using barriers, two-way traffic could be established on one side of the highway, for example, while the other side or direction would be closed for construction.

On the closed side, a heavy deck or section of the road would be demolished from one road pier to the next pier. A prefabricated section would then be inserted with cranes, tied together and by Monday morning, that side of the highway would be reopened.

The raised section of Interstate 91 is aging and in such poor condition that the state spends about $2 million a year just to maintain that portion of the highway.

Senate President Therese Murray said Massachusetts should consider a possible increase in the state's minimum wage.The Republican photo by Dan Ring

DePaola also talked about a bill approved by the Senate that would restore tolls for passenger vehicles between Exit 1 in West Stockbridge and Exit 6 at Interstate 291 east of Springfield. The tolls, removed in 1996 for passenger vehicles, could raise about $12 million a year, he said.

Under the Senate bill, sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Stanley C. Rosenberg, an Amherst Democrat, money generated by the tolls could only be spent on transportation projects in the four counties of Western Massachusetts.

He said drivers would pay 75 cents to $1 one way on that stretch of the turnpike if the tolls are put in place again.

The reinstatement of the tolls was approved April 13 on a voice vote as an amendment to the Senate version of a transportation financing bill. The bill needs to be reconciled with a similar bill approved in the state House of Representatives. Both bills would increase the state's gas tax by three cents to 26.5 cents a gallon and increase the cigarette tax by $1 to $3.51 a pack.

It's uncertain if the provision to reinstate the tolls would be included in the final compromise transportation financing bill. Rep. Sean F. Curran, a Springfield Democrat, said the tolls were removed to help provide "regional equity" because taxpayers in Western Massachusetts are helping pay for the debt on the new central artery project in Boston. "At least in the House, I've made it known that I am 100 percent against reinstating the tolls exits one to six," said Curran.

The chamber summit, hosted this year by Sen. Gale D. Candaras, a Wilbraham Democrat, drew about 70 members of the chambers to the Statehouse.

The event also included speeches by Senate President Therese Murray, a Plymouth Democrat, as well as Glen Shor, secretary of the state Executive Office of Administration and Finance, Treasurer Steven Grossman, Massachusetts Department of Transportation Secretary and CEO Richard A. Davey, Sen. Stephen M. Brewer, a Barre Democrat and chairman of the Senate Ways and Means Committee, and others.

In her speech, Murray suggested that Massachusetts should consider an increase in the state's $8-an-hour minimum wage as a way to help close a growing divide between incomes and the cost of living.

"An adult earning minimum wage in Massachusetts earns $16,704 annually, which is under the federal poverty level of $19,090 and represents a $12,000 gap between a worker earning the minimum wage and the annual income that is needed to live independently," Murray said.

After her speech, Murray told a couple of reporters that she does not know right now what should be the level of a possible new minimum wage.

Earlier this month, Murray also talked about the need to consider raising the minimum wage during a speech to the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce.

In his speech, Brewer said the proposed increase in the gas tax would add $30 a year to a motorist who drives 20,000 miles and gets 20 miles per gallon. "It's a Guinness and a couple bags of chicken wings," he said.